Page 547 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 June 1989
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The Assembly voted -
AYES, 10 NOES, 7
Mr Collaery Mr Berry
Mr Humphries Mr Duby
Mr Jensen Ms Follett
Mr Kaine Mrs Grassby
Dr Kinloch Ms Maher
Mr Moore Mr Whalan
Mrs Nolan Mr Wood
Mr Prowse
Mr Stefaniak
Mr Stevenson
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Mr Berry: On a point of order, Mr Speaker; I think the mover has the right of reply to close off debate.
MR SPEAKER: Not in this circumstance, Mr Berry.
Mr Berry: Well, I draw your attention to standing order 49, which says: "In all cases the reply of the mover of the original motion closes the debate" - in all cases.
MR SPEAKER: The effect of the closure that has been agreed to terminates the debate.
Mr Whalan: I rise on a point of order. Mr Speaker, I submit to you that that is not a correct ruling as it applies to our standing orders. It may be nice to say, "Well, the practice in the House of Representatives is such and such" or "The practice in the Senate is such and such", but we are not the House of Representatives and we are not the Senate. The closure quite clearly relates to the speaker before the Chair at that point of time, but in standing order 49 it quite clearly says, "In all cases the reply of the mover of the original motion closes the debate". That is the trigger, Mr Speaker. It is not the gag motion that is the trigger; the trigger to close the debate is the right of reply of the mover of the motion. I submit to you that you review your previous ruling and provide the Minister, who has important matters to contribute to this debate, with her right to close the debate.
MR SPEAKER: My advice on this matter is that my original statement on this is correct. If this is not the will of the Assembly, then it should be put to the Committee on Administration and Procedures and we will review the standing orders. But at this time the situation is that the question is to be put.
Motion agreed to
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